Shelbourne's title credentials remain decidedly questionable as north-Dublin rivals Bohemians continued to torment the Damien Richardson managed side, which once again flattered to deceive, at Dalymount Park yesterday.

An opportunity to go top of the table was flagrantly thrown away as Shelbourne, for all their talent and premium on possession for much of the game, failed to show the conviction and hunger of a title-winning team.

Such was Richardson's ire, he kept his players locked in the dressing room for fifty minutes after the game.

"A performance like that raises the question of whether we have what it takes to win the title," said Richardson. "We controlled the game for long spells but that little spark that decides whether you're a winner or not was missing. We didn't have eleven players throughout the match with the belief and commitment to win it."

Shelbourne enjoyed the greater possession but lacked a presence in midfield and were, unusually for them, desperately poor down either flank.

The corner count of 6-2 in favour of Shelbourne reflected their first half possession but it was Bohemians who showed their visitors the way to goal, leading at the break from their only serious attack of the first half in the 18th minute.

It proved the game's only goal and was, in the words of Bohemians manager, Turlough O'Connor, worthy of winning any match.

Donal Broughan's ball in behind the Shelbourne defence left question marks over Tony McCarthy and Pat Scully as Eoin Mullen drifted across from the left to latch onto the through ball. His finish was perfection itself as he clipped the ball over the backtracking Alan Gough with his right foot. Stephen Geoghegan, as so often is the case, was Shelbourne's chief attacking foil and he almost equalised four minutes before half time skilfully turning Shaun Maher only to see his curling shot palmed away by goalkeeper Michael Dempsey.

Shelbourne survived a couple of long range Broughan free-kicks to retain their grip on the game in the early stages of the second half and were unlucky not to have levelled the score on 69 minutes when Davy Campbell's header came back off a post after a Pat Fenlon free-kick had deflected off the defensive wall.

But, thereafter, Shelbourne surrendered and Bohemians ran the game for the last 20 minutes in which they should have increased their winning margin.

Why they didn't was down to Gough, who made three excellent saves to deprive Tommy Byrne, Tony O'Connor and Brian Mooney.